title: Short Communication: Low seroprevalence of cryptococcal antigenaemia in patients with advanced HIV infection enrolling in an antiretroviral programme in Ghana.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of cryptococcal antigenaemia in a clinic population with advanced HIV infection, with a view to giving antifungal therapy to those testing positive.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples from adults with CD4 count <100 cells/mm(3) presenting to a large HIV clinic in Kumasi, Ghana, were tested retrospectively for cryptococcal antigenaemia using a latex agglutination assay, and clinical and demographic data extracted from case notes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 92 samples tested, two were positive thus giving a prevalence of 2% (95% CI, 0-5.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of cryptococcal antigenaemia in patients with advanced HIV infection enrolling in an antiretroviral programme appears to be low in Kumasi, suggesting that the value of routine testing of outpatients diagnosed with advanced HIV infection may be limited in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection & Travel Medicine, The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK. ymamoojee@gmail.com
authors.forename: Yaasir
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mamoojee
authors.forename: Shaid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shakoor
authors.forename: Rebecca L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Gorton
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarfo
authors.forename: Lambert T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Appiah
authors.forename: Betty
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.forename: Indran
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Balakrishnan
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chadwick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000097:blood*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D003454:Cryptococcus / Q000276:immunology*; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000946:Antigens, Fungal